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AGENCY:

ACTION:

Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0185).

SUMMARY:

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 250, “Increased Safety Measures for Oil and Gas Drilling, Well-Completion, and Well-Workover Operations,” and related documents. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES:

Submit written comments by April 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or e-mail (OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1010-0185). Please also submit a copy of your comments to BOEMRE by any of the means below.

Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled, “Enter Keyword or ID,” enter BOEM-Start Printed Page 149812011-0009 then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this collection. BOEMRE will post all comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607. To see a copy of the entire ICR submitted to OMB, go to http://www.reginfo.gov (select Information Collection Review, Currently Under Review).

End Further InfoEnd PreambleStart Supplemental Information

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801et seq.), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations to manage the mineral resources of the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, right-of-use and easement, or pipeline right-of-way. Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources in a manner that is consistent with the need to make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. Section 1332(6) states that “operations in the Outer Continental Shelf should be conducted in a safe manner by well trained personnel using technology, precautions, and other techniques sufficient to prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, spillages, physical obstructions to other users of the waters or subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to property or endanger life or health.”

The interim rule (75 FR 63346), effective October 14, 2010, implemented certain safety measures outlined in the Secretary of the Interior's report entitled, “Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf” (Safety Measures Report), dated May 27, 2010. The President requested that the Department of the Interior develop this report as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident on April 20, 2010. On June 2, 2010, the Secretary of the Interior directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) to adopt the recommendations contained in the Safety Measures Report and to implement them as soon as possible.

This information collection (IC) request concerns the regulations that amend certain drilling requirements. This includes requirements related to subsea and surface blowout preventers (BOPs), well casing and cementing, secondary intervention, unplanned disconnects, record keeping, well completion, and well plugging. It also covers the related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that the BOEMRE issues to clarify and provide additional guidance on some aspects of the regulations.

Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under multiple subparts in 30 CFR part 250. Responses are mandatory and are submitted on occasion. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. BOEMRE protects information considered proprietary according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), 30 CFR 250.197, “Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection,” and 30 CFR part 252, “OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.”

BOEMRE collects the information to address various recommendations from the Secretary's report that were incorporated into the regulations. These regulatory requirements: ensure sufficient redundancy in the BOPs; promote the integrity of the well and enhance well control; and facilitate a culture of safety through operational and personnel management. They also improve the safety of offshore oil and gas drilling operations in Federal waters and promote human safety and environmental protection while requiring OCS lessees and operators to follow best industry practices for well control. This collection references Applications for Permit to Drill and Modify (Forms MMS-123 and MMS-124) but does not change the forms.

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 44,731 hours. The following chart details the individual components and estimated hour burdens. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in the normal course of their activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that into account in estimating the burden.

Identify and report subsea wellheads, casing stubs, or other obstructions

USCG requirements

0

Total

13,348 Responses

44,731 Hours

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have identified no paperwork non-hour cost burdens associated with the collection of information.

Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated to respond.

Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) requires each agency “* * * to provide notice * * * and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of information * * *” Agencies must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

To comply with the public consultation process, on October 14, 2010, we published a Federal Register notice (75 FR 63346) associated with the IFR announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. In addition, § 250.199 provides the OMB control number for the information collection requirements imposed by the 30 CFR 250 regulations and forms. The regulation also informs the public that they may comment at any time on the collections of information and provides the address to which they should send comments. We received multiple comments in response to the IFR; however, BOEMRE is Start Printed Page 14984extending the comment period and will continue to accept comments on the IFR and this information collection. Therefore, all comments received to date, and those that may be received during the extended comment period, will be considered, addressed, and consolidated in the final rulemaking, and we will revise this collection of information accordingly.

If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by April 18, 2011.

Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.